Machine gun



Q R 2. l 15 a 8 6 1 qz mmz May 3, 1938. R. LALOUX MACHINE GUN Filed Sept. 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1711/6722?! v Re e Lazouz y 5 g 4 1'- W Attorneys 42a HREARMS mm y R. LALOUX 2,115,861

MACHINE GUN Filed Sept/125, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I71 van f r: Rene LaZou/Y W7 2% mm 9 Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES use PATENT OFFICE Application September 5, 1936, Serial No. 99,649 In Belgium September 25, 1935 Claims.

It is known to provide a fastening device for the barrel of a rapid fire gun or the like by means of a ring screwed around the end of the entry of the barrel and carrying externally an interrupted thread intended to engage by axial sliding followed by a partial rotation, with a corresponding thread of the breech casing, the adjustment of this ring being effected by a grip; when the barrel is in the fastened position, this grip occupies a lateral position with respect to the fire arm so as not to obstruct the aim.

The object of the present invention is to permit the use of this grip for the transport of the fire arm by arranging it in such a way that the grip can be disposed above the fire arm without the barrel becoming unlocked. For this purpose according to the invention the grip is mounted on an arm capable. of rotating freely around the end of the barrel, means being provided to render the said arm rigid with the threaded ring whenever desired. The grip is secured on a slide plate moving longitudinally in the said arm, the end of this slide plate being arranged to engage in a notch provided in the threaded ring.

The accompanying drawings show by way of non-limitative example, one form of embodiment of the invention. The latter extends to the different original features which comprise the arrangement illustrated.

Figure 1 is a View of the assembly of the fire arm showing the barrel in separated position.

Figure 2 is a section across the device for assemblying the barrel and the breech case.

Figure 3 is a front view of the breech casing, the barrel being lifted off.

Figure 4 is a rear view of the barrel.

As seen in Figure 1, the fire arm essentially comprises a barrel 2 provided with its gas vent system 3, a breech casing 4 provided towards the front part with a gas cylinder 5, and towards the rear part with the pivoting butt 6. The front end of the gas cylinder 5 is provided with a two footed support 1.

Around the extension 2a of the barrel (see Figure 2) is formed a screw thread 2?) around which is screwed a ring 8. This ring 8 is provided with an external thread 8a interrupted at two diametrally opposed points (Figure 4). The pitch of the interrupted thread 8a is slightly greater than but in the same direction as the pitch of the thread 2b.

In the front part of the breech casing 4 (see Figure 3) there is provided an internal screw thread 4a corresponding to the external thread 8a of the ring 8. Aroundthe extension of the barrel 2a and towards the front part of the latter is mounted a ring 9 capable of turning freely around the barrel. This ring 9 is rigid with an arm 10 in which a slide plate H is mounted for sliding against the action of a spring Ila. This slide plate is integral with the grip l2. The end Ila of the slide H is chamfered and is capable of engaging between stops 8c, 8d (Figure 4) provided on the screw threaded ring 8 so as to render the grip l2 rigid with the screw threaded ring 8 during rotation.

In order to fasten the barrel, the extension 2a of the barrel is introduced by sliding into the breech casing; this introduction is made possible due to the feature that the interrupted threads 8a of the ring 8 slide in the spaces 4b provided between the inner screw threaded parts 4a of the breech casing. The arm i0 is then caused to pivot from the position shown by broken lines in Figure 4 to the position shown by full lines in the samefigure. During this rotation the threaded ring has been driven by the end Ila of the slide plate ll engaged between the stops 8c, 8d. The interrupted threads 8a of the ring engage in the interrupted threads 4a of the breech casing thereby causing a longitudinal displacement of the barrel towards the rear part of the fire arm due to the effect of the difference in pitch between the screw threads 21) and 8a in such a way as to' lock the barrel firmly on the breech casing.

If it is desired to move the fire arm without dismounting it, the end Ha of the slide plate is disengaged from the stops 8c and 8d by exerting a pull on the grip l2. This grip is then caused to shift along arm in into the position represented by broken lines in Figure 4. During this rotation the ring 8 which is held in place by the 1ateral spring 30 engaging in one of the notches such as 3| provided on the ring does not turn so that the barrel remains rigidly fixed. Furthermore the position occupied at this instant by the grip l2 permits the mounted fire arm to be easily transported.

What I claim is:

1. A machine gun or similar firearm comprising a gun frame provided with an internal interrupted screw, a barrel having an extension provided with an external screw-thread, an interv nally threaded ring mounted on said barrel extension and provided with an external interrupted screw-thread adapted to cooperate with the screw-thread in said gun frame, a carrying and actuating handle mounted on said barrel extension to freely rotate around the same, and means UUl H for detachably rigidly securing said handle to the ring to rotate the latter.

2. A machine gun or similar firearm comprising a gun frame provided with an internal interrupted screw, a barrel having an extension provided with an external screw-thread, an internally threaded ring mounted on said barrel extension and provided with an external interrupted screw-thread adapted to cooperate with the screw-thread in said gun frame, a carrying and actuating handle mounted on said barrel extension to freely rotate around the same, a sliding plate mounted in said handle for longitudinal movement toward and away from said barrel extension, and means on said ring adapted to cooperate with said sliding plate to detachably rigidly secure said handle to said ring.

3. A machine gun or similar firearm comprising a gun frame provided with an internal interrupted screw, a barrel having an extension provided with an external screw-thread, an internally threaded ring mounted on said barrel extension and provided with an external interrupted screw-thread adapted to cooperate with the screw-thread in said gun frame, a carrying and actuating handle mounted on said barrel extension to freely rotate around the same, said ring having a notch in the surface thereof, and a securing member slidably carried by said handle for movement toward and away from said ring to engage in said notch to detachably secure the handle to said ring.

4. A machine gun or similar firearm comprising a gun frame provided with an internal interrupted screw, a barrel having an extension provided with an external screw-thread, an internally threaded ring mounted on said barrel extension and provided with an external interrupted screw-thread adapted to cooperate with the screw-thread in said gun frame, a carrying and actuating handle mounted on said barrel extension to freely rotate around the same, a securing member slidably carried by said handle for movement toward and away from said barrel extension, means on said ring adapted to cooperate with said securing member to detachably rigidly secure said handle to said ring, and a carrying grip connected to said sliding member for actuating the same.

5. A machine gun or similar firearm comprising a gun frame provided with an internal interrupted screw, 2. barrel having an extension provided with an external screw-thread, an internally threaded ring mounted on said barrel extension and provided with an external interrupted screw-thread adapted to cooperate with the screw-thread in said gun frame, a carrying and actuating handle mounted on said barrel extension to freely rotate around the same, a securing member slidably carried by said handle for movement toward and away from said barrel extension, means on said ring adapted to cooperate with said securing member to detachably rigidly secure said handle to said ring, resilient means urging said securing member toward said barrel extension, and a carrying grip connected to said sliding member for actuating the same.

, RENE: LALOUX. 

